Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Speedwell GONE!

It's always sad to see a bus company go under. But whats even worse is when you see it coming from a mile off. Only a few days ago Speedwell Bus was told they were going to lose there licence from the end of March and as predicted within a week they have decided to cease trading forcing TfGM to find alternative operators for the routes.
Now i don't know all of the routes they do but i think everything will be covered.

Today i noticed a Bluebird 59 plate Solo on  the 396 service and i believe that from tomorrow all the 202 journeys and the weekday 343 will be run by Stagecoach out of Ashton depot. this is at least until April, when i assume tendors will be submitted by whoever wants to run them.

There are a few Glossop schools being covered too, these will be done by Magic coloured Volvo Olympians. The 202 will be run with Darts and there will be 3 man buses covering the 343 service.
It's sad that driver have been made redundant and i wish them all the best in finding work with other companies.
I'm still off this week and back in work next Wednesday so not got too much info on the other routes. Only stuff i am reading on Facebook and by chatting with people i work with.

Picture accredited to  Stuart Valentine
at

22 comments:

  1. Mic18/1/12 20:21

    stotts are running the 395/96 from what I have read and also the 343 I also could see it coming a mile of

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  2. jonesy300118/1/12 20:36

    Have stotts still got the ex UK north(imposters!!) deckers they used to run on the 427s(grotton-hollinwood)or do they only operate by using solo`s?

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  3. Mic18/1/12 20:46

    they still have double decks for school services

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  4. Oldham 10018/1/12 21:16

    I wasn't seeing things when i saw Bluebird running a 396 earlier.

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  5. Felix18/1/12 21:28

    Bluebird were running on the 395/6 today as Stotts spare vehicle was needed else where, Stotts are this evening running the 202 and the 394 is being covered by bowers.

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  6. Benzo18/1/12 22:10

    Shame to see SpeedwellBus vanish from trade, I heard a rumor about final closure of SpeedwellBus from somebody during a trip on the 397 to Hyde around 6 months ago, Wasnt sure what the date was to happen.
    Who will run the 341 Glossop to Hyde service?
    I saw a bluebird bus on the 396 today too.

    No Pioneer based bus on the 408 today aswell 40432 and Manchesters 40443 running on the 408, both loans and 40433 surely.
    40403 is back from an MOT if it was, 40001 most certainly gone back to Bolton, 40324/60 no sign of them.

    And for the Stagecoach; caught 19103 (Sharston bus 'or not') at Hadfield on my way to Ashton on Tuesday?

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    Replies
    1. james driver first pennine (former pmt)19/1/12 20:00

      benzo mike tinker informs me both them are loans to duki 341 is stotts along with 342/4 395/6 blue bird operated today and yesterday due to stotts vehicle commitments elsewhere. 40360 is off road as par of the abs(mount at back ) snapped on it at newton senior sevice layby last week. so is at oldham i think whlst it gets fixed no idea where 324 has gone

      Delete
  7. Gaz19/1/12 01:09

    I took 16773 and 22131 to
    Ashton from Hyde rd and the engineer brought 22159 I believe

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    Replies
    1. Benzo19/1/12 22:43

      22159 was reported to have moved to Wales about 6 months ago plus 22131 is Ashton based anyway (unless it had a service at Hyde rd)

      Delete
  8. Anonymous19/1/12 16:43

    is the 343 definately running tonight then as a stagecoach from hyde bus station?

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  9. Shaun19/1/12 18:54

    Stagecoach are running the weekday daytime service, JPT still run the Saturday daytime service and First still run the evening and Sunday service

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  10. Mic19/1/12 21:08

    Bezno I was told 40001 was noted at Bolton depot still with Pioneer Blinds in

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  11. Mic19/1/12 21:09

    buses on loan to Pioneer are 31952 (long term) 34019/57/40432/40433/40443

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  12. Benzo19/1/12 22:40

    16771/22100/33/46 - have been seen so far up here, anymore?. Are they temporarily based at Ashton for the time being?

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  13. Mic20/1/12 19:25

    wonder if 33084/91/92/34054 will be put back in service if needed

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  14. M Branson20/1/12 21:30

    Sad to see this independent havs finally bitten the dust, but as you say, you could see it a mile off.

    Anyone know who's running the 342/344, and the 188? No information on TfGMs website of any of the details following Speedwell's demise. They seem to have gotten very poor on that kind of thing since becoming TfGM.

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  15. Shaun20/1/12 22:13

    From what's being said, 188 is Bluebird (might get confusing have two 188s by Bluebird in Manchester) and 342/344 is Stotts. 395/396 is currently Bluebird, 343 is Stagecoach, as is 202, while 341 is Stotts

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  16. Mic21/1/12 09:51

    news of AZ fleet

    16773 and 22149 have been reinstated here 22133/46 on loan till 22105 has had an MOT done another is due back in service

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  17. Felix21/1/12 22:48

    Got to say Mark I do agree with you, carnt belive TfGM have no information on there site, and doubt they will !!
    There was no information regarding cover of services when both The Coachmasters and BuVal went belly up, very poor indeed!

    Very odd to see Bluebird in Ashton Bus Station, and what's with the front service number in the blue square that keeps flashing on then off, that in it's self is confusing.

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  18. Gerald (SK14)23/1/12 22:51

    Stotts are doing the 342/344 route - took a photo this afternoon - now posted on Hyde Daily Photo. With their low-floor entrance most of the regulars on this route are happy to see them - though I here they had to help the drivers learn the route a bit.

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  19. Oldham 10024/1/12 12:45

    I often find that when i company takes over a service on emergency tender the passengers are just glad the service is running rather than them being left with nothing.

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  20. Felix24/1/12 18:55

    True, but for fare paying passengers there is often a big difference in what operators charge, although I'm fairly sure knowing Stotts and Speedwell well, then fares have most likely fell slightly since they took over.

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